Chapter 942
"Not only did Pentenny surrender to Diónia, but they also dared to refuse to recognize the priestly group and elect their own high priest. This is a blasphemy against the sacred tradition!" Rong Ni roared angrily.
"I heard that it was a request from Diónia, and they had no choice but to comply. Are you going to punish Lalala?!" Kontruk sighed, and the wrinkles on his face deepened. He looked at the burning flames in front of him blankly. "Now, whether it's Bardani or I, I'm afraid the only thing we can think of is to let the tribe survive this difficult period …"
"Savone will curse them!" Rong Ni said hatefully, and slammed her wooden staff hard.
At this moment, a guard came in to report, "Great Leader, Chief Theramonk is back."
"Let him in quickly!" Kontruk said anxiously.
A burly middle-aged man walked into the hall with heavy steps. Kontruk saw his expressionless face, and felt uneasy. "Theramonk, you're finally back! Did Bardani agree?! "
Theramonk glanced at everyone in the hall, then shook his head, and said in a low voice, "Bardani said that the Pentenny tribe had almost run out of food in the previous war, and now they're relying on Diónia's help. It's impossible for them to have extra food to help us …"
"Damn Bardani!" Kontruk's anticipation turned into disappointment, and a trace of anger rose in his heart. "His father committed suicide 10 years ago. If it wasn't for our support, how could he have become the great leader of Pentenny? Now that he's betrayed the Samonai Alliance, forgotten our kindness to him, and ignored the ancient tradition of the four major tribes to help each other, refusing to lend a helping hand. Savone will never let this coward off the hook! "
High Priest Rong Ni glanced at him, and said coldly, "Who was the one who spoke up for him just now?! I've already said that these traitors are unreliable! "
Kontruk snorted, but did not respond.
"Great Leader, don't we still have the Forentani? We can borrow some rations from them! "Vannie, one of his trusted subordinates, suggested.
"They're even more of a bunch of cowards. Don't have any expectations for them." Kontruk did not have a good impression of the eastern neighboring tribe that claimed to have the blood of Samonai. He said disdainfully, "Previously, because the Diónia pressured them, they refused to let us enter their territory. Now that they've seen us defeated, they can't wait to hide. Why would they provide us with help?"
"Since they won't give, then we'll rob them!" Vannie said fiercely.
The high priest and the treasurer didn't react in the slightest when they heard this, because the Karacheni's daily life depended on herding and plundering for a living.
But at this moment, Kontruk frowned. "Do you think the tribes below haven't thought of this? In the morning, I just received the news that yesterday, a few tribal leaders in the east led hundreds of warriors to invade the territory of the Furentani people. However, the Furentani people mobilized more people to counterattack and beat them back. They even lost some of their people. Now, the Furentani have stationed troops at the border and are on guard against us … "
"No matter how cautious the Forentani people are, they are no match for the brave warriors of our tribe. As long as we gather all the warriors of the tribe, we will be able to defeat them and force them to hand over their food obediently," Vanni said proudly.
"Vanni, you have a good plan. But go ask the tribes in the city and see if any of them are still willing to go to war!" The leader of another large tribe, Theramonk, who was sitting beside the fire pit, suddenly sneered and said loudly, "The war with Diónia has caused many casualties in our tribe. Now all the tribes are short of resources and are unable to compensate the families of the tribesmen who died in the war. I'm afraid it will be difficult for the tribesmen to respond to the call. Besides, without the help of Pentney and Kautini, can our Karacheni tribe really defeat the Frentani tribe with our current strength?! Besides, it would be useless even if they could defeat them. Don't forget that the Frentani were now affiliated with Diónia. They can ask for help from Diónia at any time. "
"It's not just the Frentani people. It's reported that the Maxi people in the north have also made some movements in the past few days. They seem to be preparing to avenge their previous defeat …" Even though Kontruk was very close to the fire pit, he still seemed to feel cold. His body was curled into a ball, and he kept rubbing his hands with a worried frown on his face. His eyes were a little dazed, "Although the Diónia people have left Pentney's territory, they are still entrenched in Benventum and may march north at any time … We are surrounded by enemies, and we still have to suffer from hunger …"
Beside him, High Priest Rone and Vannie were also frowning, their eyes filled with confusion.
Only Theramund, who was standing opposite the fire pit, did not look worried, but his expression was uncertain. He kept glancing at the others, and finally could not help but say loudly, "There's only one way to save us, the Karaceni people — surrender to Diónia!"
His words were like a clap of thunder that shook the three of them. High Priest Rone was the first to yell, "Even if all of us starve to death, we will never surrender to our mortal enemy, Diónia, who is trying to destroy our sacred tradition!"
"No! We can't surrender to Diónia! I heard that they claim to punish the instigators of the war! " While Vanney objected, he looked worriedly at his great leader, Controok.
Theramund gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and stood up straight. He mustered his courage and looked straight at Kontruk, "It's not a big deal to change some traditions for the survival of the entire tribe. Besides, if it weren't for your insistence, many tribes wouldn't have agreed to send warriors to invade Diónia's territory that doesn't share a border with us! There's an old saying in the Samonese, 'The one who attracts the crows is responsible for driving them away.' Chief, you should take responsibility for the entire tribe that's facing extinction! "
"Theramund, how can you speak to the chief like that!" Vannie yelled in panic.
Kontruk stared at Theramund, and slowly stood up. His hunched and trembling body instantly became imposing, and he pressed down on Theramund aggressively, "You didn't go to Pentney for help! Instead, you went to the Diónia and prepared to surrender to them, didn't you?! "
Since the words had been spoken, Theramund decided to go all out. He stood where he was and did not back down, "Of course I went to Barthany, but the Diónia also found me … You should know that our enemies are not only Diónia, Frentani, and the Maxi, but also the Volsi in the northwest and the Pentney who have cut off contact with us. The forces around us have all become allies of the Diónia. As long as Diónia gives the order, they will attack us! … …
Chief, when you persuade us to start a war, you always say 'for the good of the Karachenes'. Now, the Karachenes are facing a life and death situation. If you really think for the sake of the entire Karachenes, shouldn't you do something for us?! "
After hearing these words, Kontruk's imposing manner instantly faded, and a gloomy expression climbed onto his old face. He swayed his body and sat down dejectedly …
The hall suddenly fell into a cold silence.
Suddenly, a guard rushed in and shouted in panic, "Chief, there are a lot of … a lot of tribesmen outside, and they want to force their way in. They said they want to propose to you!"
Vanney subconsciously looked at Seramund and asked, "You did it?!"
"You overestimate me." There was a trace of sadness in Theramund's voice, "They just want to live …"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a deafening cry outside, "Sue Diónia for peace immediately!!!"
"We request to re-elect the chief!!!"
… …
Hearing this, Kontruk, who was already old, instantly looked even older. His face was pale, and he stood up shakily. He refused Vanney's help and staggered towards the courtyard door …
… …
The army of Diónia in Latin sailed south in batches, and the 3rd Fleet, which received orders from the Devers, returned to escort them.
During this period, Caraceni surrendered to Diónia. It was said that the former chief, Kontruk, committed suicide at home, but only the current chief was present when he committed suicide, so there were also rumors that he was killed by Theramund. This caused quite a stir in Caraceni.
Max Brutus, a former aristocrat of Rome, was now a surrendered soldier of the first company of the second brigade of Diónia's second legion. He had just been dispersed and had not had time to familiarize himself with this completely unfamiliar military environment before the army began to sail south.
It was the first time in young Max's life that he rode on a ship. The ship rocked in the waves without a moment's rest, and he also vomited until he passed out. He was tossed around for an entire day.
On the second day, he was woken up by a comrade next to him. "Brother, don't sleep, we should go ashore!"
Max did not understand what the Diónia soldier said, but he followed the direction of the soldier's finger and understood what he meant. The ship was sailing towards a town on the coast.
They finally reached the shore! Max let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. This was the first time he went to the sea, and he had never longed for land so much. He took a deep breath of the sea breeze, trying to get rid of the rotten smell in his mouth.
The soldiers around him were talking and laughing excitedly, but he could not understand what they were saying. He did not know what the other people in Rome who were in the same situation as him were thinking.
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